It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Gig Manville. A U.S. Naval officer, Vice President of RCC Builders & Developers, Inc. and mentor to young engineers, Gig will be remembered for his knowledge and expertise and his willingness to share his talents with others.
Arnold “Gig” Manville passed away on October 10, 2014 after a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer. Despite the heavy toll the disease and its related treatment took on Gig, he kept working until his final weeks. With nearly four decades in the building construction industry, his knowledge and experience were an invaluable resource to Railroad Construction Co., RCC Builders & Developers and to the many young engineers in the mentoring programs with which he was involved.
Gig earned a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a master’s degree from Stanford University. He served in the U.S. Navy as a Civil Engineering Corp officer. After long stints with George A. Fuller Company and Damon G. Douglas Company, Gig came to Railroad Construction in 1997. While serving as a Vice President at Railroad, Gig was a driving force behind the company’s entrance into the building construction market with the formation of RCC Builders & Developers. While with RCCB&D Gig oversaw some of our most prestigious projects including construction of the Meadowlands Train Station, the award-winning Donald Stewart School for Early Childhood Education and the Local 825 Training Center.
Gig was a tireless supporter of New Jersey high school athletics and was a regular attendee at Friday night basketball games throughout the state. At different times he served as president of the Westfield School Boosters Association and the Westfield Basketball Association.
Gig loved to share his knowledge and experiences and participated in several mentoring programs. When the Port Authority of NY & NJ started their Mentor Protégé Program Gig was among their first volunteers. The program guides recent graduates and young business owners through industry essentials such as the requirements of working with state agencies, submitting successful bids and delivering projects on time and within budget. Gig worked closely with each student, identifying their strengths and weaknesses and providing thoughtful leadership and instruction toward personal improvement.
Gig was also a longtime member and past president of the New Jersey Chapter of the American Concrete Institute (ACI). He had served on their scholarship committee since its inception in 2002. The New Jersey Chapter has just announced the establishment of the “Gig Manville Summer Internship Program” to honor Gig’s commitment to mentoring the next generation of construction industry professionals.
Despite his impressive resume of cutting-edge projects, Gig often stated that his proudest accomplishments were his son Ryan and daughter Allison. He is also survived by three grandchildren, five nieces, a nephew and his brother and sister.
Gig’s loss leaves a void in the RCC family that will be impossible to fill. The projects he worked on will remain a lasting testament to his memory. His insight and commitment to his craft provide an example that all young engineers should strive to emulate.